Etrian Odyssey - Nintendo DS

Etrian Odyssey for Nintendo DS is a hardcore, first-person dungeon crawler that pays homage to classic RPGs while introducing modern design elements. Developed by Atlus, it challenges players to navigate the mysterious and deadly Yggdrasil Labyrinth—floor by floor, tile by tile—while drawing their own map on the touchscreen.

You begin by assembling a custom guild of adventurers from a selection of distinct classes like Landsknecht, Dark Hunter, Medic, and Alchemist. Each class offers unique skills and combat roles, allowing for a highly strategic party setup. With no pre-set characters, players have full control over building and naming their team, customizing abilities as they level up.

The standout feature is the manual mapping system: you’ll use the stylus to draw walls, mark hazards, and record treasures on the DS's bottom screen. This adds a layer of immersion and gives a real sense of exploration and discovery—mistakes in mapping can be costly, and learning the layout of each floor is key to survival.

Combat is turn-based and brutally challenging, especially against FOEs—powerful roaming enemies that often require careful planning to avoid or defeat. You’ll need to manage resources carefully, know when to retreat, and be ready to adapt your strategy as the labyrinth grows more treacherous.

With a haunting soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro, deep character progression, and a pure focus on dungeon-crawling mechanics, Etrian Odyssey is a rewarding experience for players seeking an old-school RPG challenge with a fresh, touchscreen twist.